Felicia Shrub Rose Bushes

Felicia Shrub Rose

Felicia is one of the best of the hybrid musk roses; not as well know as Buff Beauty but of comparable qualities. It bears masses of fully double, shapely, light pink flowers with salmon pink centres. The whole flower fades attractively, becoming lighter and more silvery with age, and all the while carrying a strong aromatic fragrance. In many ways it is closer to the Hybrid Teas than the Hybrid Musk roses. Felicia is strong grower, well clothed in attractive foliage and so makes a good specimen. Perfectly lovely during its first flush in June and then flowering steadily through the summer and into September. Longer if it is in a warm spot.

You should think about Felicia as a shrub rose candidate for your garden. Lovely flowers, heavenly scent, disease resistant and deservedly still a holder of an RHS Award of Garden Merit. A super rose, but if she is not for you or if you want to look at roses to plant in the same border, then we still have a great range of UK grown roses here.

Great for your garden

Felicia does best in full sun which, as with all hybrid musk roses, heightens its perfume. Place it where you can smell it, near an outdoor seating area, outside a window or by a path. In the right position this is a rose that will quickly make a specimen sized bush about 5ft tall and maybe the same across so it is a good size and space should be allowed for it. People will want to smell it so allow for human access...

Rosa Felicia facts

• Type: Hybrid musk
• Colour: Gentle shades of pink
• Flower shape: Small but fully double
• Fragrance strength: Strong, aromatic
• Final height and spread: 5ft x 5ft
• Flowering season: All summer
• Repeat Flowering: Yes
• Disease resistance: Good

Felicia Trivia

Felicia is another AGM winning hybrid musk bred by the Rev. Joseph Pemberton in the 1920's towards the end of his life. He was a prolific breeder and grower and at its height his nursery in Romford sold about 40,000 roses a year.

How to plant

You can order Felicia at any time. Our bareroot stock can be planted between November and April, and we have containerised plants available for the rest of the year.

Choose a spot in the border or shrubbery with good light; at least half sun. Dig a hole deep enough to allow the graft union to finish at just below soil level and with plenty of room for the roots. Clean up the soil from the hole by taking out roots, weeds, large stones and other bits and bobs and mixing in a good measure of well rotted compost or manure. Spread Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi over the bottom of the hole so it will make contact with the roots. If planting pot grown roses gently tease a few larger roots loose before planting.

Place your rose so its roots are spread out and the union is at the right height. Backfill the hole with the planting mix, firming it down as you go. Water in thoroughly.

Feed and mulch with well rotted manure in spring and keep well watered during dry periods for the first year.

Prune Felicia roses as follows:

Your objective is to build a framework progressively over 2-3 years. You do so by pruning good new growth back by about 30% in January-February each year and shortening healthy side shoots to about 3 buds. Once you have this framework, just work over the plant gently in winter. Take out damaged or overcrowded growth and remove a few old branches at ground level to promote new growth from the crown of the plant that should flower next year.

During the flowering period, deadhead spent blooms as they fade, to encourage production of further flowers.